South America, Chile

Chile, republic in southwestern South America, bounded on the north by Peru, on the east by Bolivia and Argentina, and on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean. It has an extreme northern-southern length of approximately 4,270 km (about 2,650 mi), but its average width is less than 180 km (110 mi). Archipelagoes extend along the southern Chilean coast from Chiloe Island to Cape Horn, the southernmost point of the South American continent. Among these are the Chonos Archipelago, Wellington Island, and the western portion of Tierra del Fuego. Other islands belonging to Chile include the Juan Fernandez Islands, Easter Island, and Sala y Gomez, all of which lie in the South Pacific. The country has a total area of 756,626 sq km (292,135 sq mi). Chile also claims a section of Antarctica. The country’s capital and largest city is Santiago.